Business through Adversity Webquest: Studying Motown as a business model.

1.Students are currently studying how businesses survive and how ideas for how businesses are formed (usually when a person through observation or unfortunate circumstance identifies a need that is not currently being addressed/met). Learners are expected to follow steps in the wiki web quest, devise a business plan and business model and create both a written and PowerPoint presentation that will be shared with a high school class studying the same concept in California. Students will share their projects. Through this process we can also identify the differences of business needs between coasts.

2.By using the internet, students will search, investigate and research information needed to answer questions. By using presentation software, students will use critical thinking skills and organizational skills to prepare a presentation that will demonstrate their newly acquired skills. Through the use of Skype and Wikispaces students will discuss their projects with students on opposite coasts, and post comments or questions to the discussion board. Students will follow links and answer questions in the Wiki, about the history of Motown, hardships or opposition faced. They will answer questions that will Students will be divided into groups of four and assigned a category for their intended business. Students (in their groups) will visit the wiki in class, and follow the steps listed. They will study Motown’s history, Motown as a Business model, look at other businesses that have been created under adverse conditions, How to create a Business Model, and answer questions on each topic. Students will collaborate with students from CA on business options. Through research, group discussion and discovery, and collaboration, groups will formulate their ideas for a need of a business that could survive in the adverse conditions effecting today’s economy. There will be Skype conferences for students to share ideas with other groups working on the same project in California.

3.Assessment: Students will be assessed on their written answers to the webquest questions, title page, group members listed with responsibilities listed; sources cited page, and informational page describing the name of their business, the nature of the business and why they chose the business (what need did they see in their given category that was not being met which drove them to chose this particular type of business), and a 2-4 paragraph description of their collaboration team which will include a reflection to explain the benefits/ drawbacks of online collaboration from their experiences.50 Points
Students will be assessed on their 10-15 slides PowerPoint Presentation; it will need to have a title page with group member’s listed, business name, nature of business. Description of business and a logical but simple business plan similar to the plan that was provided in the Wiki. 50 PointsPoints will be deducted from individual’s grades if the majority of the group feels that a group member did not perform their fair part of the responsibilities. This will be assessed through peer evaluation forms given during class. Students will share presentations with students from California and vice versa.




Link to my webquest wiki: Webquest